Project V (Clementine X Male Reader Book 4)

Pseudo-Grandson

You step into the house and scan for Brooklyn. It's not a massive place, so it doesn't take you long to find her sitting on the bed. Her knees are pulled up to her chest, her arms are wrapped around her legs, and her face is down and hidden.

You: Hey, Brooklyn.

You shut the door behind you. Marina is talking with Alice, trying to see if she can get anything out of her, just in case. It gives you time to speak with Brooklyn. You hope she's cheered up a little. But she doesn't respond to you, so that's not a great sign.

You crawl onto the bed and sit next to her, your back against the headboard. You put an arm over her shoulders and rub her arm gently.

You: How are you doing?

She grunts.

You: Ana was killed.

She lifts her head up.

Brooklyn: By who?

Her nose is runny.

You: Don't know.

She turns to look at you, her eyes red and still wet. She's not stopped crying.

You: I assume they were affected by whatever got to you.

She looks down and turns back around.

Brooklyn: You know, I... I knew what I was doing. Yet, I still did it.

She lays her head on your shoulder.

Brooklyn: I didn't want to... It took everything inside of me to try and stop it, but I couldn't.

You: I don't blame you.

Brooklyn: I just got so angry all of a sudden. And then I turned into someone new. Someone who didn't care about anything in the world except hurting people. If you hadn't brought me back here, I would have killed that girl. I almost killed you.

You: But you didn't.

Brooklyn: I almost did. And no matter what was happening inside my head, that would have been my fault. I wouldn't have been able to live with myself.

You: You need to get out of your head.

Brooklyn: I hurt you.

You: I healed instantly, and I didn't take any of what you said to heart.

Brooklyn: But I tried to kill you.

You: Honestly, it wouldn't be the first time.

Brooklyn: I feel bad, and you're making me feel worse.

You: You're beautiful.

Brooklyn: Why did you say that?

You: Trying to make you feel better and change the subject.

Brooklyn: Shut up.

You: Did it work?

Brooklyn: No.

She shifts in the bed and lies her head in your lap. She's now curled up in a ball at your side.

Brooklyn: I shouldn't have done what I did.

You: When we get a second,

You lean down, so your mouth is next to her ear.

You: I'll show you how much I really don't care.

She giggles.

Brooklyn: That may be a few weeks.

You: I can wait.